Panting, he leaned against the wall to keep himself from falling.
But a man had followed him, and through the darkness, for the lights of the feast were hidden by the corner of the palace, he recognised Spendius.
"Begone!" said he.
The slave without replying began to tear his tunic with his teeth; then kneeling beside Matho he tenderly took his arm, and felt it in the shadow to discover the wound.
By a ray of the moon which was then gliding between the clouds, Spendius perceived a gaping wound in the middle of the arm.

He rolled the piece of stuff about it, but the other said irritably, "Leave me! leave me!" "Oh no!" replied the slave.

"You released me from the ergastulum.

I am yours! you are my master! command me!" Matho walked round the terrace brushing against the walls.

He strained his ears at every step, glancing down into the silent apartments through the spaces between the gilded reeds.